A least 63 sanitation defaulters were arraigned before two mobile courts sitting at different locations during the monthly environmental sanitation exercise in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State.
The mobile courts, sitting at Post Office Roundabout and Otovwodo Junction, were presided over by Chief Magistrate Rita Efiuvwere and Chief Magistrate Onome Esade, respectively.
Some defaulters were sentenced to community service, while others were fined for various offences.
Speaking during the exercise, the Ughelli North Head of Department for Environment, Victory Ikpibako, said:
“The monthly environmental sanitation in Ughelli North and its environs has come to stay, and I am glad that our people are gradually cooperating with the laws. Though there are some stubborn ones who refuse to obey the law, they are the ones being tried in the courts today at different locations.
“Two mobile courts were set up, one at Post Office Roundabout and the other at Otovwodo Junction, to try defaulters, and that is what we are seeing now. At Otovwodo Junction, 27 sanitation defaulters were arraigned before Chief Magistrate Onome Esade, while at Post Office Roundabout, 36 defaulters appeared before Magistrate Rita Efiuvwere. Those found guilty were either committed to community service or made to pay fines for their offences.”
Ikpibako also commended his officers for their dedication:
“I want to commend my officers who came out dutifully and selflessly to ensure Ughelli North is kept clean during the exercise. We grouped them into clusters, and one of the groups went to Uwheru to create awareness of the sanitation exercise across every community in Ughelli North.
“If you look at the environment now, there is a clear difference. Unlike before when some defaulters would attack us, since the administration of Olorogun Jaro Egbo, about 70 per cent of Ughelli North’s population have keyed into keeping their environment clean.
“I appeal to all individuals in Ughelli to continue keeping their surroundings clean without needing to be reminded, because it is for our collective benefit. When the environment is clean, the spread of diseases reduces, expenditure on healthcare also reduces drastically, and Ughelli North becomes a better place to live in.”
